NBD Origin

Origins of the NBD
Since the formation of the NBI in 1999, donors and national governments have recognized that the desired ‘win-win’ development objectives could only be achieved if the NBI successfully addressed the views and concerns of Nile Basin civil society. Stakeholder participation has therefore been a priority at all stages in project development, including capacity to consult effectively and equitably with local communities in project-affected areas. At the same time there has been a recognized need for civil society to organise more effectively so that it can better influence development processes, including those under the NBI. To date, civil society has lagged behind both in understanding what the NBI is about and how to influence it more effectively. The NBD has been established to help overcome this challenge. Many civil society organisations (CSOs) already engage in debates on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, comprehensive development frameworks and sector-wide approaches, including civil society involvement in poverty assessments and other diagnostic processes. Their considerable strengths lie in establishing grassroots participation and holding multi-stakeholder dialogues, bringing on-the-ground research perspectives into programme development and introducing interdisciplinarity to problem-solving across the social sector. Other organisations have key sector-specific knowledge on the environment and water supply and sanitation, on issues of gender and difference surrounding poverty, and on wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Many such organizations have established long-term relations with local communities and can provide detail on local actions and concerns which is often critica, but frequently lacking, in successful project and programme planning and intervention. Early recognition of these important roles encouraged funding by CIDA in 2002 of some Can$1m. IUCN implemented this first phase which established a basic governance structure , a Discourse Desk with Facilitator in Entebbe, and received further support from a Convening Group comprising the World Bank, IUCN and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). A series of consultative workshops convened by a Steering Committee (SC) up to April 2004 helped to initiate National Discourse Forums (NDFs) in most basin countries and achieved some progress towards developing plans of action. A wider goal of effecting the transition from project status under IUCN to a fully-autonomous regional Non-Governmental Organization was not achieved prior to funding running out in May 2004. This is now a major priority under the current funding phase. In late 2004, DFID funded the Overseas Development Institute's Water Policy programme to look into re-establishing the NBD under a new work programme more focused on influencing the NBI and a funding framework linked to the achievement of specific milestones. The outcome of this activity was the agreed DFID funding framework and a two-year proposal for developing the NBD.

Origins of the NBD